THE art of letter writing is alive and well in the schools of East Lancashire as evidenced by the two schools - Blacko County Primary and Griffin Park County Primary, Blackburn - featured in this week's NIE Column.

Pupils at Blacko School were moved to write letters and other items of condolence to Prince William and Prince Harry, following the death of Princess Diana, and were delighted to receive a letter back from St James's Palace, thanking them for their kindness.

Three pupils from the school reported the event in their own words.

Letters were used during Griffin Park CP School's Harvest Festival assembly, to emphasise the theme of caring for trees as a valuable part of the world-wide environment. Pupils throughout the school studied the importance of trees and each class gave a presentation in songs, poems or, in Year Six, by reading out their own letters.

A selection of the letters was sent to our newspaper to bring the message to a wider readership.

Princes' thanks to school (A Royal Letter, by Emma Cooper,11, Jack Halstead, 9, Jonathon Spencer, 9 and Zoe Heaven, 9)

AT the end of September, Blacko County Primary School received a royal letter from Prince Harry and Prince William.

Well, they didn't actually write it, but their private secretary, Stephen Lamport, wrote it on their behalf.

After the tragic death of Princess Diana, pupils from Blacko School held a special assembly where heart warming letters and poems, written by the pupils, were read to mums, dads, grandmas and grandads, teachers and children. At the end of assembly we invited everybody to write in a special book of condolence which was then posted to St James's Palace, London. Children in Mrs Harper's class also made a book of tributes and memories of the Princess which was sent to her two sons.

"It was so nice to receive a letter," said Mrs Howarth. "I thought it was wonderful," said Mrs Stephenson. "I thought it was lovely," said Mrs McHugh, so all were delighted.

Mrs Harper, headteacher of Blacko School, said: "It was a very special moment for the children and good to know that even in their deepest sorrow the royal princes remembered to say thankyou."

Save the trees

PLEASE help us in a campaign to save our trees. Trees are disappearing all over the world because people are chopping them down.

I think we should improve recycling with paper because we waste it so much. I also think we should have penalties and fines for vandalism on trees.

Trees are beautiful things and they should not be chopped down. I agree with what environmental campaigners do to save trees. Also we should use other materials instead of wood and paper. Roads and motorways are being built and trees are being chopped down because they are in the way. Please put my letter in your newspaper so people can understand what is going on.

KATRINA SMITH, age 10,

Griffin Park County Primary School, Blackburn

ME and my class are campaigning to save the world's trees.

I think people should recycle more paper, or if you chop a tree down plant four more to replace it. I think we should use more materials like plastic and cloth so the trees can grow.

I don't think people want concrete roads and factories ,where we can see trees, nature and fields. I say stop chopping and start growing. Too many trees are being chopped down for no reason.

I think environmental campaigners are doing a really good job because they are bringing the problem to people's attention. I think there should be more laws about chopping down trees.

KRISTINE HODGKINSON, age 10,

Griffin Park County Primary School, Blackburn

I AM writing to you because it is appalling the way that people are chopping down trees. Beautiful land is being spoilt because people are making motorways, houses and big factories. They are wasting our countryside. They must stop before it is too late.

No-one wants to see noisy motorways, smelly factories and long streets full of houses.

We want to see the lovely countryside, rainforests and meadows full with flowers. For a start why not plant special trees to chop down and improve the recycling of paper by collecting it from houses.

Make more things from plastic. There should be penalties for vandalising trees and I think we should reserve land for our benefit and others.

JESSICA MITTELMYER, age 10,

Griffin Park County Primary School, Blackburn

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.